We have two laptops and a desktop, and we have three kids, so they get a bit of a LAN party experience playing Mineclonia.

The desktop also has a big screen (34 inch ultra-wide I think) and 4 xbone controllers so we play 4 player games like Overcooked, Stardew Valley, Sackboy, Tux Cart.

Generally we don't have screens on when their friends come over but perhaps when they are a bit older they might still have a chance for that gaming with friends experience.

Don't buy them a tablet or smartphone then until they're almost adults, and limit computer time. I didn't get my first cell phone until I was 16, didn't get my first smartphone until 24. They will be okay.

they’re doing a games night and should invite their buddies

As in table top? Pssh, that's so lame. I kid, I kid.

But I do think it'd be "exclusive" to setup your own kids with a split screen experience, with platforms that seem new and exciting. Just peddle it as "exclusive," and it'll sell hotter than hotcakes.

No need to brag :p

I want to believe... No but for real though, I feel like WoWF might actually work for because of the horizontal progression style. Every time I tried to play again I just didn't want to be on threadmill but it was mandatory. IF they can actually manage horizontal-ish progression then I can approach the game differently and get a new, different experience which won't be the flaming hot passion it was in my youth but also might not be all that bad, and more importantly compatible with my current lifestyle.

Or I'll just fall off (on?) the wagon again and cancel the sub, no Biggie.

Better pre purchase the deluxe mega edition to be sure

@WhyIHateTheInternet Forgot about Quake, though we played a lot of Unreal Tournament at Lan parties

This and Counter Strike 1.X, and some Diablo 2 when we needed a change of pace

@sicarius I'll have to check that out! Been using my steam link a lot lately when people come over to get back to gaming with friends in person

I started the smash bros nights specifically to make friends post college as most of my college friends moved away. One of the guys I met online only once through a TTRPG discord and now he brings the good beer.

Also, whimsy can be everywhere. Step outside and watch a flower dance in the wind. Bam, whimsy. Go visit a cemetery and make up funny stories about what led to inscriptions on the tombstones as you map it for findagrave.com , bam, whimsy. You need zero friends for whimsy, but whimsy has led to many friends in my experience.

z snaps and sips my mimosa

Edit to add: love a good racing horse name

The "Aww" at the end got me. Thats great.

Haters gonna hate. Sadly too many people let the haters bring them down.

Now if you'll excuse me. I'm gonna up the whimsy and go frolic in a field before scheduling our next LAN night.

That's why we switched to smash Bros. Not everyone has a laptop or desktop they want to bring but I can pull out a bunch of controllers. It's so much fun actually seeing someone groan when they miss a super smash.

We all bring our favorite snack and pass bowls around. Case of whatever beers. We're debating setting up a running leaderboard.

We played 16 player Halo a bunch in college. 4 TVs, 4 XBoxs, 4 players each, such a blast.

Yes! Go look at sea glass and scream "pank!" If you want to. Life is more fun with whimsy.

Watchmen has been in my list to read for ages. I need to finally get to it. Feels like a good gloomy Halloween read

too young for FPS games unfortunately.

How the fuck does diablo 2 work in vr?

I'm looking forward to going through Titanfall 2 in VR. All reviews I've seen say it's like a AAA native VR game.

The rapid release of VR mods is making it really difficult to completely hate AI, but I do keep trying.

Noooo, not my babyprez army T.T